Perennials (fibrous rooted). Stems 1–4+, branched. Leaves abaxially hairy, adaxially glabrous or sparsely hairy; basal (present or absent at flowering) spatulate, 2.8–10.4 × 0.5–1.3 cm; proximal cauline linear-spatulate, 1.5–5.5 × 0.2–0.7 cm; mid and distal cauline similar, smaller, distalmost bractlike. Peduncles 13.5–24 cm, hairy. Heads 1–4. Involucres 15–25 mm diam. Phyllaries abaxially hairy; outer light green proximally, dark green distally, ovate, 4–7.2 × 2.1–2.9 mm, apices broadly acuminate; inner yellow, lanceolate, 5.1–11 × 1.5–2 mm, apices acuminate. Receptacles: pit borders toothed to almost entire at angles. Ray florets 8–22; corolla tubes 3–5 mm, laminae 12–30 × 3.2–5.3 mm. Disc florets 50–180; corollas yellow to orange-red, 5.5–8.2 mm; style branches yellow. Cypselae 1.3–2.2 mm; pappi of lanceolate, entire or apically lacerate scales 1.3–2.2 mm. 2n = 72.

Flowering summer–fall. Moist to dry pinelands and savannas; 0–100 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.